Shrimp Scampi recipe – a 15-Minute Easy Dinner

Buttery garlic Shrimp Scampi is a flavor-packed classic recipe that’s ready in 15 minutes! Served over pasta, rice, mashed potatoes or with crusty bread for a delicious easy dinner recipe anytime!

This easy Shrimp Scampi is a secret weapon recipe that’s ready in a flash.

It’s made with just a few simple ingredients including plenty of butter.

It’s easy to make restaurant quality classic scampi at home. Easy for a weeknight meal or a special dinner.

An easy no stress dinner recipe everyone will love.

Jump to:

• What is Shrimp Scampi?
• Recipe Ingredients + Notes
• What Kind of Wine to Use
• Making Shrimp Scampi without Wine
• Pro Tips
• How to Make Shrimp Scampi – Step-by-Step
• How to Thicken the Sauce
• Storing Leftovers
• More recipes you’ll love!
• Recipe

What is Shrimp Scampi?

The word ‘scampi‘ is an Italian word for a crustacean similar to a type of small edible lobster also called Dublin Bay prawns or Norway lobsters.

‘Shrimp Scampi‘ refers to the shrimp dish which can use different types of shrimp varying by region.

It’s a shrimp recipe made with a garlic butter sauce that’s fast and easy to make. 

It’s usually served over pasta for a complete and satisfying main dish recipe.

Recipe Ingredients + Notes

Prepared pasta. One pound of pasta: Angel hair, fettuccini or spaghetti are all great choices. Regular or gluten-free pasta can be used. Cook al dente.

Zucchini noodles can also be used.

Olive oil. Mixed with the butter for sautéing.

Unsalted butter. Melted for sautéing. Gives the classic flavor to the shrimp scampi sauce.

Garlic cloves. Four cloves peeled and minced.

Uncooked Shrimp. Choose large shrimp or jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined. Make sure to use raw shrimp. It can be fresh or previously frozen and thawed.

NOTE: you can buy it peeled and deveined to save prep time.

Dry white wine or Chicken Broth. Garlic butter shrimp scampi traditionally cooked with wine. We’ve listed suggested types below.

It can also be cooked with chicken broth if preferred.

Lemon Juice. The juice of one lemon, freshly squeezed is used. We use a handheld juicer for this. Fresh lemon juice does make a difference in the recipe.

Red pepper flakes. Just a pinch adds some zing to the garlicky sauce.

Italian Parsley. Some fresh parsley chopped and sprinkled on at the end is the finishing touch. Use fresh herbs not dried.

Salt & black pepper. To season as needed.

What Kind of Wine to Use

A signature ingredient of Shrimp Scampi is the wine.

It makes the sauce delicious with a wonderful depth of flavor!

Use a Dry White Wine. ‘Dry’ means it is not a sweet white wine.

Any of these types of wine will be delicious:

• Sauvignon Blanc
• Pinot Grigio
• Pinot Gris
• Pinot Blanc
• Sémillon
• Even dry sparkling wines will work

Making Shrimp Scampi without Wine

Chicken Stock or Broth, or Vegetable Stock can be substituted for the wine if preferred.

Most of the alcohol does cook off during making of the sauce, but not all of it.

Pro Tips

All ingredients should be prepared and ready before cooking starts.

This is a fast recipe. There won’t be time to prep ingredients while you cook.

Don’t Over Cook the Shrimp!

Shrimp cooks very quickly and can dry out or become rubbery in texture. 

How to tell shrimp is cooked:

When shrimp is raw it will be gray and transparent.

As it cooks it turns pink and opaque (can’t see through it). 

How to Make Shrimp Scampi – Step-by-Step

STEP 1. Sauté the garlic and shrimp

Combine the olive oil and butter in a large skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat. When the butter melts, sauté garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.

Add the shrimp and sauté 1-2 minutes on each side until the shrimp turn pink (photo 1). Transfer shrimp to a plate (tent with foil to keep warm).

STEP 2. Make the sauce

Pour the wine, lemon juice and red pepper flakes into the pan. Simmer on medium heat until it reduces by half.

STEP 3. Finish the scampi

Return the shrimp and parsley to the pan (photo 2-3). Stir together (photo 4) and serve over the prepared pasta.

NOTE: extra butter can be stirred in at the end for an extra rich sauce (photo 3).

How to Thicken the Sauce

The sauce is thin design. However if you love a light creamy gravy texture you CAN thicken the sauce.

1. Remove some of the liquid from the pan when beginning to reduce the sauce.
2. Stir 1 tablespoon cornstarch into the removed liquid to dissolve it.
3. Return to the skillet, stir in and proceed with reducing the the sauce.
4. The cornstarch will aid in some thickening.

Storing Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When rewarming be careful not to over cook the shrimp.

More recipes you’ll love!

• Spicy Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice
• Grilled Spicy Salt and Pepper Shrimp Skewers
• Shrimp Salad Recipe
• Spicy Garlic Sriracha Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry
• Bacon Wrapped Shrimp recipe with Cajun spices

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Recipe

Originally published: March 15, 2020